Gas burner system

Abstract

A burner pan comprises a large top plate conforming to the entire burner area for providing convenient support for the logs and wide flexibility in the configuration and location of the gas flame ports. The burner pan comprises a plurality of gas ports disposed along the outer periphery of the top plate, a burner plenum subjacently disposed along the outer periphery of the top plate for delivering gas to the gas ports, and a dead air space in the center of the burner pan. The burner plenum is formed between a shallow gas-tight outer housing shell which defines the outer peripheral walls of the burner plenum and a smaller inner shell adapted to fit within the outer shell which defines the inner peripheral walls of the burner plenum and circumscribes a substantially sealed central dead air space which is essentially free from the burner gas.

I claim as my invention: 
     
       1. A gas burner pan for supporting logs in a gas fireplace comprising: a gas tight shell having a gas inlet for receiving gas, a top panel for supporting the logs thereon and having a plurality of gas ports disposed therein for producing flames, the shell defining a burner plenum subjacent the gas ports and in communication with the gas inlet for receiving gas therein and distributing the gas to the gas ports and means within said shell for defining at least one dead air space substantially free of gas for minimizing the volume of the burner plenum.   
     
     
       2. The burner pan as set forth in claim 1 comprising an inner member adapted to fit within and sealably engage an outer shell for forming the dead air space therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The burner pan as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shell comprises a top member and a bottom member sealably connected to the top member, and an inner member disposed within the shell and sealably connecting the shell for forming the dead air space therebetween and at least one burner plenum. 
     
     
       4. The burner pan as set forth in claim 2 wherein the outer shell comprises a bottom plate and a hat-shaped top member having a top panel, opposing front and back panels, and opposing end panels for sealably connecting the bottom plate so that the bottom plate and the top member define the outer peripheral walls of the burner plenum and the inner shell comprises a top panel, opposing front and back panels, and opposing end panels for sealably engaging the outer shell for defining the dead air space therebetween and the inner peripheral walls of the burner plenum. 
     
     
       5. The burner pan as set forth in claim 1 wherein some of the gas ports are disposed in discrete and spaced sections for producing flames having selected sizes, shapes and concentrations to simulate a natural wood burning fire. 
     
     
       6. The burner pan as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outer burner pan has some flame sections disposed at the rear of the top panel generating relatively concentrated flames separated by other flame sections generating relatively sparse flames. 
     
     
       7. The burner pan as set forth in claim 5 wherein some of the gas ports are disposed on the top panel for generating a flame at the front of the outer shell. 
     
     
       8. The burner pan as set forth in claim 1 wherein the burner plenum is disposed along the outer periphery of the top panel and has a generally O-shaped configuration in plan view and the dead air space is disposed in the center of the burner plenum. 
     
     
       9. The burner pan as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer shell has a generally V-shaped cross section and a base for supporting the outer shell, the top panel has a generally V-shaped cross section and at least two inner members adapted to fit within and sealably engage the outer shell for forming dead air spaces therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The burner pan as set forth in claim 9 wherein the burner plenum is disposed along the outer periphery and the middle of the top panel to form a generally O-shaped configuration with a middle portion through the center of the O-shape in plan view and two dead air spaces disposed in the center of the burner plenum and separated by the middle portion. 
     
     
       11. A gas burner system for use in a gas fireplace comprising: a gas tight outer shell having a gas inlet for receiving gas, a top panel for supporting a plurality of logs thereon and having a plurality of gas ports disposed therein for producing flames, the outer shell defining a burner plenum subjacent the gas ports and in communication with the gas inlet for receiving gas therein and distributing the gas to the gas ports and containing an inner shell defining at least one dead air space substantially free of gas for minimizing the volume of the burner plenum.   
     
     
       12. The burner pan as set forth in claim 11 comprising an inner member adapted to fit within and sealably engage the outer shell for forming the dead air space therebetween. 
     
     
       13. The burner pan as set forth in claim 11 wherein the outer shell comprises a top member, a bottom member sealably connected to the top member and an inner member disposed within the outer shell and sealably connecting the outer shell for forming the dead air space therebetween and at least one burner plenum. 
     
     
       14. The burner pan as set forth in claim 12 wherein the outer shell comprises a bottom plate and a hat-shaped top member having a top panel, opposing front and back panels, and opposing end panels for sealably connecting the bottom plate so that the bottom plate and the top member define the outer peripheral walls of the burner plenum and the inner shell comprises a top panel, opposing front and back panels, and opposing end panels for sealably engaging the outer shell for defining the dead air space therebetween and the inner peripheral walls of the burner plenum. 
     
     
       15. The burner pan as set forth in claim 11 wherein some of the gas ports are disposed in discrete and spaced sections for producing flames having selected sizes, shapes and concentrations to simulate a natural wood burning fire. 
     
     
       16. The burner pan as set forth in claim 15 wherein the outer burner pan has some flame sections disposed at the rear of the top panel generating relatively concentrated flames separated by other flame sections generating relatively sparse flames. 
     
     
       17. The burner pan as set forth in claim 15 wherein some of the gas ports are disposed on the top panel for generating a flame at the front of the outer shell. 
     
     
       18. A gas burner system as set forth in claim 17 wherein some of the gas ports in the top panel are disposed for generating a flame that impinges on a substance that simulates glowing embers and on at least one of the logs. 
     
     
       19. A gas burner system as set forth in claim 15 wherein some of the gas ports are disposed at the rear of the top panel for generating a flame that impinges directly on at least one log. 
     
     
       20. The burner pan as set forth in claim 11, wherein the burner plenum is disposed along the outer periphery of the top panel and has a generally O-shaped configuration in the top plan view and the dead air space is disposed in the center of the burner plenum.